On Monday I swung by Hidden Peaks and climbed for a few hours. Now, the pictures that I pointed out in the last entry are a little misleading. It appears much larger than it really is. In fact, it’s essentially just a bouldering cave. I’m not sure how sold I am on it, since there’s no place to really traverse, but it’s better than nothing as of right now.
Also, most of the routes are hard, really hard. There are very few V0s and V1s, and those are on the 45 degree wall. I suppose it’ll get me strong in a hurry though. The only downside, though, is that I’ll end up being a 4-5 move person, and so it will make actual wall climbing that much harder.
Ugh, decisions, decisions, decisions.
Oh, and I ripped up my hand pretty good when I went too. I can tell that I haven’t done any hard climbing in awhile because the pads on my fingers definitely don’t have the calluses they used to.
Ever since I moved up here (about 5 months ago), I haven’t been working out regularly. Amazingly I have noticed it that much, but that could be because I’m still walking to and from work around twice a week (30 mins each way) or climbing around once a week with Erin. However, I’ve realized that it’s time to get back into a semi-regular routine.
When I was down in Champaign, I was usually working out at the gym (cardio and weights) three times a week, plus I was climbing at least once a week, usually twice. Going from that to no weights, running maybe once every couple of weeks, and climbing maybe once a week when I can, is a huge change. What bothers me the most is that I’m finally starting to see the differences between how I was and how I am now.
This is why the last two weeks I’ve been looking at Gyms in the area. I was really hoping to find a gym with both a climbing wall and pool in addition to the regular equipment. Unfortunately there are really only two places that offer that, and both are more than I want to pay, in addition to other factors. One of the places is Gold Coast Multiplex. Well, actually, that place doesn’t have the climbing wall, just the pool and other equipment. However, if you join Gold Coast Multiplex, you also become a member of the Old Town Fitplex. Now, the Fitplex has everything, pool, climbing, and regular equipment, but the pool is outdoor and shared (so no real lap swimming) and the wall is horrendously small. For those reading that know of Vertical Plains in Champaign, think smaller, less bouldering, but better molded walls. Plus, there’s the fact that parking is non-existent and it’s not within easy walking distance of my place. If I lived within walking distance, I’d probably join there in a heartbeat. However, I could join the Multiplex and then I get the pool and parking (parking garage that costs $2 every time), but it’s also over $100 a month, which seems a bit excessive.
The other place that has everything I want is actually downtown, fairly close to my office. The Illinois Center, again, has everything I want, but look at that wall, bouldering is non-existent, which means I either need to have a partner all the time, or someone will have to belay me. Both of which means that I’d probably never actually use it, since I enjoy climbing on my own a lot too, just to get a good workout. Granted, I haven’t actually visited this place, but I’m guessing it’s at least as expensive as the above Multiplex, if not more.
I was in a pickle, of all the choices, I was definitely going to go with the Fitplex, and just deal with the parking. I mean, street parking is a pain, but I could deal with it. In fact, I got a free two week trial membership to try it out. However, I decided to do some more research on climbing walls within the area. Turns out there’s a place just up the street from me, within walking distance, or just the next stop on the L. I tried to go there last week, but apparently they were closed for the week, so I plan on heading there either tomorrow or Tuesday. Now, if this place is like the pictures they have on the less-than-stellar website, this could definitely be the place.
Since I started giving up on the all-in-one gym, I looked at the gym right down the block from me. I stopped in after I found out that Hidden Peak was closed, and got some more information. West Loop isn’t a large gym by any stretch, but it has everything else I want (minus a pool), and has very nice equipment. Being so small, I ask about how busy it must get, and if there are wait times on the equipment, etc. I was told there wasn’t any, but it does get full during normal peak times, 4-7. They also gave me a free two week trial, and so I’ve gone the last three days. Granted, I’ve been there on non-peak days (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday), but the maximum amount of people I’ve seen there at any one time is four. It is a little bit more than I really want to spend, but the fact it’s so close and I don’t have to worry about parking (even if I were to get that lazy and drive) is a nice bonus, plus the people that work there are incredibly nice. Now I just need to go tomorrow to find out how busy it really gets.
Now, the way I see it, I’m going to end up spending under $100 a month between both the gym and the climbing if I end up going with both of these places. However, that will get me unlimited use of both facilities, plus, hopefully, a much better climbing gym, and not having to worry about parking. I really wish that West Loop had a pool, just for a change of pace, but I guess it’s not that big of a deal. I mean, I’ve not belonged to a place with one before, so it won’t be like I’m losing anything. And, well, if this other gym doesn’t work out, I can always go back to the Fitplex and save myself about $20 a month.
Decisions, decisions, decisions.
Now that I’m actually using my bike, I want a better way of hauling it (and Erin’s) around. Currently she has a trunk mount one, but, well, it sucks. If it didn’t scratch the crap out of her car, I’d be half way tempted to slap it on mine and then we could take my car, but alas…
Plus, I’m getting some extra money from the University for my vacation days. Nothing like a little extra cash to burn a hole in your pocket. Anyways, I’m looking at getting a Thule rack from ORS Racks Direct. They have the best price by far (20% off MSRP), free shipping until tomorrow, and no tax (man I love the internet). Anyways, I need some help from my fellow readers. I need to know which is better, an upright mount, or a fork mount? I can see how each one would have it’s benefits, plus there’s the fact that having the upright mounts increase the price by $38 (more for the actual mount, plus I need 2 more lock cylinders).
Any help would be greatly appreciated, and the sooner the better, since the deals seem to end tomorrow.
Talk about another great weather weekend. So far, two in a row. I hope this trend continues. Anyways, this weekend was another first of the summer months: Mountain Biking. I brought up my bike to Chicago this weekend and on Saturday we went to the Forest Preserve District, and visited the Palos trails. The main trails used for running, horseback riding, biking, etc, were nice and easy. However, as soon as you got off the main paths, it quickly went to mud (at least the one we jumped on). We were actually out there for quite some time, especially since it was the first time this year.
We started on the blue trail near Bullfrog lake, then met up with the green, then orange, then yellow. We took the yellow trail to the brown, and not having any idea where we were (nor how far we were from anything, headed back. All of these trails were wide trails, no single track, so the it wasn’t that much excitement. However, on the way back, we jumped on the dark green trail by Joe’s Pond. This was a single track, and about 50 feet into it, it got pretty muddy. On the map, they don’t show it going past the road, but in fact it does, and with the meandering stream down there, it went from muddy, to, “holy crap, are there ANY dry spots?” and “That creek is kind of intimidating with the rocks and stuff.” Needless to say when we came out at Pioneer Woods, we were covered.
It was an awesome time though. Too bad my ass took the blunt of it, and it’s incredibly sore now. But, my bike didn’t attack me like Erin’s did. She has metal pedals, and both of the back sides of her ankles are hacked up pretty well. Thankfully, I came out relatively unscathed.
I hope next weekend is just as nice, because I could definitely handle doing that again. In fact, I left my bike up with her, so it’s all set. Granted, it’s more to do with the fact we thought we were going to go riding again on Sunday, and never actually got around to cleaning them off.
I haven’t talked much about climbing lately. It’s probably because I haven’t really done much exciting with it. I head to the gym 1-2 times per week, and just work on the same stuff over and over. Whatever, it keeps me in shape.
However, last weekend was the Climbing Club’s callout trip. Normally, I’m not all that excited about them, but this would be a great time to get Erin to start climbing. So last Friday I brought her into the gym and taught her how to tie into the rope and to belay. This way she’d be all set, and wouldn’t have to learn anything while we were down there.
We left Champaign at 5:30am on Saturday morning, and get there around 9ish, just when everyone was starting to head down to the routes. Unfortunately, I didn’t know where anyone was heading, so we just kind of hiked around for a bit. Then we watched some guy attempt a mixed route, but he didn’t know it was mix (always fun hearing someone ask if they missed a bolt). Finally we found everyone and we got our climb on.
Erin was a little nervous at first, which was understandable. However, once she finished with one route she was hooked. She was even doing the harder stuff, which impressed me. However, she did have a hard time on some of the overhung stuff. Figuring out how to get over bulges definitely set her back some, but hell, it was her first time outside, and second time roped up (she did a few easy routes at the gym on Friday). Plus she was attempting 5.10a’s.
On Sunday, we were one of the first groups out of camp (we didn’t partake in the alcoholic beverages, mostly cause we didn’t bring any, and midnight bouldering), and so we headed down to something that would be a little more easier for her, so at least she’d get the satisfaction of making it to the top. Needless to say, since we were the first ones out of camp, and it was already after 9, the route I was thinking about was already taken. No biggie, we’ll just keep walking to Railroad Rock, since I’m sure nobody will be down there. Thankfully no one was, and there is an easy 5.8 there. I setup the top rope and Erin went up. She had a couple problems where she couldn’t figure it out, but still made it to the top. Upon getting to the bottom she informed me that she’ll be doing it again, in order to fix the problem spots. Sure enough, she did, 2 or 3 more times.
I was impressed.
After I cleaned the route, we headed out, since she had 2 tests this week she needed to study for. All in all not a bad weekend. I think she got up something like 6 routes, and I got up something like 7 or 8. Granted, it wasn’t as many as I usually do, but it was still good fun.
Well, I got my bike yesterday. Walked in, and they know who I am. Man, I’ve gone there way too much in the last week. Anyways, I took it for a test ride before I made my final purchase. It’s amazing how light it is. I still can’t get over that fact. It’s like I’m not even riding on anything, especially when I’m mentally comparing it to the steel frame bike I had when I was a kid. So of course I took it for a ride after I made the purchase. I will definitely get a lot of use out of the bike. Probably even more-so once/if I move dept’s and have room to store my bike when I ride it in. But more about leaving DIA in a later post.
So I get a call today from Durst saying that they called Cannondale, but the didn’t have the size I needed in the color (blue) I wanted. I was going to say that it was ok, I had made my purchase at Champaign Cycle already, but then he went on to say that they had ordered the green one and that it was at Durst. Again, I was about to say that I didn’t want the bike, but then he said that I could come by any time and give it a ride.
Well, I don’t feel as bad now. I thought they had ordered me a bike, and that they were ready for me to come pick it up. Granted, I never said I wanted it, but it still would’ve made me feel a little bad. Needless to say, I’m not going to be going to Durst to try out the bike. Maybe if he would’ve let me know back on Tuesday like he said he was, about what was going on with Cannondale. But, he screwed up royally on that one.